We found 51 results tagged with "cardio"
3 Articles
47 Challenges
Fix your flat
How many of us have eyed our dusty, crusty bikes, secretly glad that the poor neglected creature has a flat tire and can’t be ridden? Enough! Today, challenge yourself to break out that spare, visit...
Think outside...the mall
A heads up for walkers: Researchers at the University of Essex found that walking in nature improved people’s mood in 88 percent of their subjects, compared to mall walking, which left 45 percent...
Test your strength with variety
No matter how challenging your strength training routine was initially, in time, your muscles will grow accustomed to the same moves and develop efficiency at executing them—without extra effort...
Learn the burn
How many calories do different activities burn? If you’re like us, you’ll be surprised! Some of your favorites may be more beneficial than you think, whereas the ones you dread may be less effective...
Add intervals
Most experts agree that adding interval training to your workouts can boost results. What is interval training? Just a fancy way of saying, vary your pace. Like to run? Alternate sprints with fast...
Take the talk test
One standard of a workout’s rigor is whether or not the participant can pass the “talk” test – being able to carry on a conversation, albeit a breathless one. If you can’t, you may be pushing too...
Embrace off-season activities
Exercisers: Why not try something completely different? If it’s chilly outside, warm yourself with a dip in the indoor pool. If it’s raining too hard to go for your run, find an indoor track. Love...
Get pedaling
Love biking but winter weather keeping you in? Try an indoor cycling class instead. Indoor cycling is an ideal mode of exercise for people of all fitness levels and is not weight-bearing as long as...
Don’t sweat it
Do you really have to be drenched in sweat to see cardiovascular results from your workouts? Not necessarily. Rate your winter workouts not in terms of (chilling) sweat, but with a heart-rate monitor...
Switch night and day
If you’re normally a nighttime workout maven, consider switching to morning or midday workouts as the days shorten. Why? Not only can it provide a physical boost as you try something a little...
Trek your food home
Shopping for foods at the local farmers’ market not only gets you outside, it lends itself to lots of walking and carrying – in short, great exercise! The next time you go shopping, challenge...
Be a worker bee
Want to move more during this season of rich foods and leisurely parties? Get to work. Running a household requires stamina – especially if you choose the right jobs. Today, challenge yourself to...
Start a new family tradition
Though we all enjoy good food and good company during the holidays, lots of families also welcome a yearly football or soccer match. Today, challenge yourself to add fitness to your family’s...
Stress less
For many, holidays equal stress as we find ourselves in unusual or pressured circumstances. Engaging in stress-relieving exercise can help. Among other benefits, exercise is known to increase feel...
Improve your elliptical
Elliptical machines are aerobic devices that allow you to get a great low-impact cardio workout without pounding your joints. Today, challenge yourself to schedule a day at the gym when you try out...
Break a sweat
How much should you sweat when you’re working out? Obviously, the answer is different for everyone. Factors like fitness, weight, ambient temperature and genetics play a role. Still, experts agree...
Redefine run of the treadmill
Reviewed your treadmill form lately? Proper form is not only better for your workout, it’s safer too. Today, challenge yourself to schedule some time to head to the gym and get on the treadmill...
Give rowing a go
At the gym, many of us use treadmills, ellipticals and stair climbers. But it can be an extra hurdle for us to brave the world of the upper or full-body workout devices. Our suggestion? Try the rowing...
Bound up the stairs
Don’t just take the stairs today – run them. Sound intimidating? Just remember that if you can only do five steps comfortably, there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone has to start somewhere. Today...
Try non-contact boxing
Non-contact fitness boxing is great exercise. Plus, it doesn’t require fancy choreography and it’s great fun. Offered at health clubs and gyms everywhere, it can also be practiced in front of the...
Exercise at the beach
Taking your fitness routine to the beach opens up a whole world of exercise, energy and sensory inputs. If you have access to a beach on a regular basis or are planning a vacation, challenge yourself...
Boot up
In the past few years, fitness boot camps have become popular with a wide range of fitness enthusiasts. Set outdoors, these high-intensity workouts promise quick results for people willing to set...
Sprint down the block
Short bursts of high intensity activity not only increase your aerobic capacity, but also burn more calories. The next time you go for a walk, challenge yourself to add a couple of short sprints or...
Make contact
Contact sports aren’t just for the bold and initiated. From aikido and judo to basketball and football, there are lots of options that suit every fitness style. If you’ve been enjoying solo sports...
Jog your memory of running
Anyone who remembers being a kid recalls the pure pleasure of running free. For exercise, few things beat a jog: It’s free, it can be done anywhere at any time, and it’s highly effective at improving...
Try capoeira
Based on ancient warrior moves, capoeira is a form of dance that can get your heart pumping and muscles moving. This week challenge yourself to see how fun capoeira can be. _Always consult a...
Get in the swim
A low impact workout that builds strength and tones your muscles, swimming is also calming and therapeutic. Plus, gliding through that cool, invigorating water just feels fantastic. Challenge yourself...
Dance with yourself
When was the last time you turned up your favorite music and boogied? If it’s been a while, you’ll be surprised to discover it’s more fun than you remember. Challenge yourself to indulge your secret...
Make a dash for it
When was the last time you raced a friend 50 yards to the finish line? If it’s been awhile, you’ll be surprised at the adrenaline rush you get from competing full speed. Challenge yourself to gather...
Make commercials count
Drop that remote and use commercials as a stopwatch instead. Do classic jumping jacks, or mix it up by varying your arm movement or by moving your legs in a cross-country ski motion. Research shows...
Hop onto the trampoline
An easy and exhilarating way to see what your body can do when it isn’t limited by gravity. Take a trampoline class to master basic moves. By day’s end most students are tucked into a harness and...
Get fired up with flag football
For pure athleticism that almost anyone can enjoy safely, flag football is the way to go. Just tuck some colored cloth into the back of your sweats and get ready to run your tail off. Make up crazy...
Got game?
You don’t need 10 players to take to the basketball court. Just fire-up a friend or two and practice skills you want to master, like lay-ups, three-pointers or dribbling. By focusing on the technical...
Spread dance fever
Are you a dancing queen? Or do you have two left feet? Either way, when you gather a group of friends or kids for an at-home dance off you’ll get your heart pumping, plus a great ab workout from all...
Jump Double Dutch style
There’s a reason some of the fittest athletes in the world jump rope as part of their regimens – it works. But kids do because it’s good old-fashioned fun. Double Dutch requires extra coordination...
Rev up a video
In addition to moving those muscles, workout videos can teach you new skills. Nowadays there are videos for practically any activity you’d want to try, often available online to download immediately...
Conquer a 5K
Lots of us think about running a 5K but never do it. What holds us back? The physical challenge can be intimidating. But if you can run two miles or so you can prepare with just six weeks of training...
Bike to work
According to the US Census Bureau, hundreds of thousands of Americans commute this way - and bicycling organizations believe this figure is low. The best thing about biking to work is that you get a...
Try salsa dancing
Dancing is such a fun, liberating activity. And what’s really great about salsa dancing is that its popularity means there are lots of opportunities for free classes in many of the medium- and...
Do 50 more jumping jacks
A few months ago we posted this challenge and immediately got a huge response. Everyone really seemed to love it. And what’s not to love? Jumping jacks get your heart rate up. They also make you...
Try a 10-minute workout
Although longer, sustained workouts may help you reach your fitness goals faster, shorter workouts can help you stay healthy too. Better yet, they get you in the habit of regular movement, which is...
Try a team sport instead of jogging
A recent study by Danish scientists who conducted research on 37 men found that soccer players worked off more fat and built more muscle than joggers exercising for the same amount of time. In...
Workout with an everyday activity
You don’t have to go to a gym to get your heart rate up. Many everyday activities help you accomplish this goal — and they don’t cost a thing. Today, make the effort to do something that gets your...
Jump rope for 10 minutes
Jumping rope is not just for schoolyards. It is a great way for people of all ages to burn extra calories, increase stamina, and improve coordination. Today, challenge yourself to find a jump rope and...
Take the stairs
Who'd have thought something as simple as taking the stairs could be so beneficial? Stair climbing is good for your heart, helps you stay fit, and five minutes of this aerobic activity burns a...
Integrate cardio into your schedule
Whether you want to strengthen your heart, lose a few pounds or improve your attitude, cardiovascular exercise is a great way to improve your health and happiness. This month, feel the benefits of...
Do 50 jumping jacks
Remember jumping jacks from high school gym class? The great thing about them is they get your heart pumping and blood flowing. They also increase the oxygen in your blood and make you more alert...
